Does alpha-Bungarotoxin inhibit motor endplate acetylcholinesterase?
Journal
Nature
Journal Volume
247
Journal Issue
5441
Pages
480
Date Issued
1974
Author(s)
Chang C.C.
Abstract
α-BUNGAROTOXIN, a specific and irreversible binding agent of acetylcholine receptors of the motor endplate1,2 and of other nicotinic cholinergic receptors3, has no inhibitory effect upon acetylcholinesterase preparation from electroplax of electric eel3. Štale and Župančič4 have, however, reported that, when a minced preparation of Mouse diaphragm was used, α-bungarotoxin as well as d-tubocurarine markedly inhibited the membrane acetylcholinesterase when acetylcholine concentrations lower than 12 μM were used. They took this result as evidence to support their hypothesis that the anionic centre of the enzyme in the motor endplate is the acetylcholine receptor5. We attempted, therefore, to re-examine the effect of α-bungarotoxin by using intact acetylcholinesterase in the motor endplate in order to test the hypothesis and to establish the specificity of binding of the toxin. © 1974 Nature Publishing Group.
Type
journal article